75 years of the DRK Göttingen: Volunteers report heroic missions!

75 years of the DRK Göttingen: Volunteers report heroic missions!

A very special anniversary is being celebrated in the heart of Lower Saxony: The German Red Cross (DRK) district association Göttingen-Northeim is turning 75 years old. A reason to celebrate and look back on a long and honorable history, which will be celebrated on June 21, 2025 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Zimmermannstraße 4 in Göttingen. The family festival presents the diverse tasks of the DRK, such as first aid, the operation of daycare centers as well as disaster control and the personal information center. [goettinger-tageblatt.de] reports that the association's activities extend across almost all of southern Lower Saxony and that it proudly has over 10,000 members and 1,000 active helpers.

The reports of two committed volunteers are particularly highlighted: Sigrid Heinemann and Torsten Dunemann. Heinemann, who has been active at the DRK since 1989, currently heads the personal information center. Your colleague Dunemann has held various positions since 1982, including head of the department for disaster control and head of the department for hygiene and occupational safety. Both volunteers were involved in the bomb clearance operations in Göttingen, both in 2010 and 2021. Dunemann vividly remembers the tragic train accident in Northeim in 1992, in which 11 people unfortunately died. His impressive career began in the Youth Red Cross and led him to the on-call service.

Volunteering for everyone

The DRK offers a wide range of opportunities for volunteer work. The volunteers support people in need and contribute their own skills. Everyone can decide how much time they want to invest. A variety of tasks are offered in various communities, including preparedness, mountain rescue, water rescue, social service and the Youth Red Cross for children aged 6 and over. Membership in the DRK is not mandatory, but certainly possible. The commitment can be made not only locally, but also internationally. [drk-goe-nom.de] highlights that there are around 5,500 DRK associations nationwide, including district associations, local associations and regional associations, which promote and support voluntary work.

A look beyond national borders shows the diverse fields of activity that the DRK offers abroad. Volunteer services in the medical, social, educational and cultural sectors are offered in numerous countries, including Israel, Italy, Peru and Ghana. Here, committed people can gain valuable experience and at the same time make a major contribution to the community. [drk.de] informs that programs such as IJFD and weltwärts provide various formats for international voluntary work.

A celebration for the whole family

At the upcoming family festival on June 21st, visitors can look forward to a colorful program. In addition to simulations of a traffic accident and a vehicle presentation, there are participatory activities especially for children that are intended to convey the joy and fun of volunteering. The daycare centers also offer an exciting course that introduces the seven principles of the DRK in a playful way. The festival will therefore not only be an occasion to look back, but also an opportunity to convey the important values ​​and excellent work of the DRK and to recruit new volunteers.

So it's not just anniversaries that the DRK has to celebrate in Göttingen-Northeim. Johannes and Helga are invited as guests of honor and bring with them the experience they have gained over the years. It becomes clear that the DRK is an important support for society - in the truest sense of the word.

For those interested in getting involved in the DRK, now is the ideal time to get involved and become part of this impressive community.